Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Block 15. A Stitch in Time

A stitch in time. . . Block 15 of the circa 1931 Friendship Quilt in the Museum of the Itawamba County Historical Society

BEAN, J.A. Mrs., Block 15

This quilt block may be in the memory of Mary A. Bean 1846 - 1899, wife of J.A. Bean, who is buried at Bourland Cemetery in Itawamba County according to Burton-Cruber.

BEAN, J.A. Mr., Block 15

This quilt block may be in the memory of J.A. Bean 1840 - 1922, a member of Company 2, Second Mississippi Regiment, C.S.A., who is buried at Bourland Cemetery in Itawamba County according to Burton-Cruber.

BONDS, W.A., Block 15

William A. Bonds, farmer, was listed on the 1910 census as a farmer in Mantachie living on the Cotton Gin-Marietta Road.He was then 30 years old and his household consisted of wife Stella, 30, sons H.C., 4, and W.A., 1.

In 1920, William A., 40, Stella 40, and sons Hollis, 13, Milton, 11, and Lloyd, 1, were enumerated in neighboring Monroe County as living on the Bigbee-Cotton Gin Road in Boyd's Precinct.

In 1930, William A. Bonds and family are listed on the Amory, Ward 1, Monroe County, census as living on East Pine Street.Mr. Bonds' occupation was recorded as purchasing agent for a lumber mill.

This is believed to be Robert Leander Roberts --- and that the person who embroidered this square got his initials backwards.Robert Leander Roberts was a blacksmith and a farmer in Mantachie.Married to Ester Susanne Chittom, he was the father of Q.C. Roberts who is named on quilt block 40.Robert Leander Roberts 1875 - 1949 is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

SENTER, A.R., Block 15

Alfred Richard Senter 1889 - 1958 was once the Chancery Clerk of Itawamba County.He was a founding employee of Fulton Bank in 1921.He was married to Maudena Sheffield Senter 1898 - 1932.Mr. and Mrs. Senter are both buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery according to Burton-Cruber.

A picture of Mr. Senter and of the 1921 Fulton Bank is at Itawamba History Review, February 20, 2008.

Mr. Senter and his family are listed on the 1920 census of Fulton.He was then 30 years old, wife Maudena 21, and listed with them are daughters Charlena, 3, and Bessie, 9 months.

If you have additional information about any of the names on this quilt square, please post a comment below. Your help is needed to "write" the story of this almost eighty-year old quilt.

A stitch in time . . . The 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt

To view the 1930s Friendship Quilt which is the subject of this series of articles, visit the Bond's House Musuem at the Itawamba Historical Society, Corner of Church Street and Museum Drive, Mantachie, Mississipi.

While you are there, inquire about how you can have your name or the names of your loved ones embroidered on the 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt. Your donations will help to further the work of the Itawamba Historical Society.

SOURCES:

Family information from Memories from Itawamba County: A Friendship Quilt circa 1931 --- A Stitch in Time by Terry Thornton with assistance from Members of the Itawamba Historical Society, Itawamba Settlers, Quarterly Journal of the Itawamba County, Mississippi, History and Genealogy. Winter 2009, Pages 143-61.